Neck support pillow

ABSTRACT

A support pillow providing head and neck support to a user laying upon it. The device employs a support pillow insert surrounded by a pillow casing having planar top and bottom surfaces and a sidewall extending between them. An insert engage able in the casing provides substantially planar support surfaces with a centrally located passage providing a relief for positioning one&#39;s head on the pillow. Proper support and spine alignment is provided by a shoulder portion of the pillow for the neck which may be formed of different material than the pillow, or varied in with or compressive force using inserts.

This application is a Continuation-in-Part to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/250,915 filed on Sep. 30, 2011 which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/388,502 filed on Sep. 30, 2010, and the application additionally claims priority to International Application Publication WO/2012/045032 filed on Sep. 30, 2011 as Serial Number PCT/US11/54405, with all of the above noted applications respectively included herein in their entirety by this reference thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to pillows providing head support to users in a prone or sitting position where a pillow is employed. More particularly, it relates to a pillow configured with a central relief area, and improved neck support component forming a support bridge, which is configured to appear as a normal pillow to allow for use in conditions where non conventional pillow shapes might not engage with linens, might cause the user embarrassment, or might otherwise be undesirable. So configured externally, the pillow underneath an exterior covering is constructed with a support bridge adjacent to a relief to accommodate the head, and thereby provide a person who is laying prone or supine, or sitting vertically in a chair with a pillow behind their neck, greatly improved neck support.

2. Prior Art

Conventionally, pillows consist of a top and bottom surface sewn together at the perimeter edges to form an exterior casing which defines an interior cavity which holds stuffing or padding. This single sewn seam central engagement structurally causes the top and bottom surfaces to slope alongside edges toward the circumferentially located seam. The slope is somewhat of an arc from the widest point of the pillow at a mid section toward the seam from the top and bottom surfaces. Gusseted pillows are also provided which employ two cicumfrential seams with material therebetween, but they too slope toward a central top area.

The padding-stuffed central portion of the pillow, even without the sloping surfaces, conventionally support the user's head laying upon it, in such a fashion that the user's neck is angled upward from the axis of their spine, when laying on the pillow prone on a surface and in a supine position on a bed or support surface. In addition to a straining of neck posture, this unnatural neck sloping reduces the support given to the neck, compresses disks of the neck on one side, can be very uncomfortable, and can even cause permanent damage over time.

One solution tried is to simply replace the filler material such as cotton, feathers, or similar pillow stuffing, with a stuffing which conforms and contours more accurately with the anatomy of a human individual's neck and head shape. This contour of course will vary widely from person to person due to height, neck length, and other reasons related to body size and structure. Such contouring can also be dependent on foam or filling density and temperature which can vary widely, and is therefor not an adequate solution for solving the major problem of misalignment and resulting discomfort in a dependable, repeatable, ongoing basis. Many more attempts at the perfect pillow have been made and are seen in prior art.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,303 to Tanaka et al. teaches a cervical and head support pillow consisting of a pillow casing with a plurality of foam inserts inserted within the casing. Inserts are combined in a variety of manners to allow the user to obtain many types of support on the neck and head. A vexing problem with pillows, with such inserts, is that a user may, on accident, lose or misplace any or all of the inserts and deem the device useless. Similarly, if the inserts are positioned incorrectly, or have a foam density that is too high or too low, the device in question may only further complicate neck or head discomfort experienced by the user.

Various other support devices have been proposed and are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,174 to Sarkozi, D582,0455 to James, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,132 to Dixon, all of which require user aided adjustability and do not provide universal comfort and support. However, such pillows follow the same general scheme of prior art of changing foam stiffness and forming contours to adapt to the neck and head which do not adapt well to most users.

Still further, conventionally employed bed pillows as a rule are filled with stuffing material such as polyester, or feathers, or down, or foam, or even the new memory foams. All these materials retain the heat produced by a user's head while laying upon it. Humans radiate more heat through their head than any other part of their body, and for a person sleeping for the night, or even for a nap on a hot day, the laying of their head on a heat retaining conventional pillow can become uncomfortable and may interrupt a good night's sleep. A simple solution is to merely flip the pillow over, but this of course inhibits the sleeping pattern of the user who must awaken heated, and flip their pillow.

As a consequence, conventional pillow users continue to suffer from this vexing combination of lack of support to their neck, terrible angled posture which can cause injury over time, and overheating from the pillow stuffing heat retention characteristics. Further, many individuals suffer irritation and sleeplessness from the long period of time sleeping will put pressure on their ear. When user's sleep on their side, with an ear against a pillow, the weight of their head causes pressure to sandwich their ear between their head and the stuffing in the pillow. This, as noted, is uncomfortable and undesirable. This pressure can build and cause the user to wake and once again interrupt a good night's sleep. Similarly, when positioned with an ear against the pillow, it is often difficult to hear from the ear contacting the pillow due to the pressure of the surface of the pillow from the interior stuffing against the ear which causes a muffling of sound around the user. For users hard of hearing in their other ear, this is dangerous. For other users, it may be desired to retain adequate hearing from both ears independent of sleeping position on the pillow.

Still further, the many support pillows seen on television and advertised in photographs generally have an appearance that is unconventional and are sized unconventionally. Rather than appearing as large rectangular pillows with smooth top and bottom surfaces, most support pillows are smaller than a conventional pillow and have humps on the edge, or other odd contours. These unconventional shapes are a problem for users who may have spent hundreds of dollars on bedding because they will not fit and fill out a conventional pillow case in an aesthetic manner. This is especially true where the bedding is on a double bed and a conventional pillow is located adjacent to a current mode of support pillow. As a consequence, many potential users of neck support pillows avoid using them and continue to suffer, rather than have bedding that appears odd or damaged from the odd and unconventional shape of available neck support pillows.

As such, there is a continuing unmet need for an improved pillow head support device and system which provides a pillow which will provide even neck support to the user no matter the sleeping position. Such a pillow head support should also provided substantial alignment of their neck with the axis of their spine for both side and back sleeping users. This alignment is most important to prevent injury over the long term. Still further, such a pillow should employ interior support components and a structure internally which will self-conform the neck support and alignment of the neck to a wide variety of the shapes and contours of user's heads and necks. Still further, such a pillow should provide this improved support while concurrently eliminating or reducing the body heat build up in the pillow over short or long sleeping periods.

Still further, to allow widespread use and employment in venues and homes which will not use unconventional appearing support pillows, such a neck supporting pillow should appear to viewers as a conventional pillow and be conventionally engageable with conventional pillow cases such that the cased pillow appears normal or the same as a cased conventional pillow in the same bed. Such a pillow should have this conventional rectangular pillow appearance while still providing the benefits of support and adaptability to user body shapes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device, herein disclosed and described, achieves the above-mentioned objects and goals, through the provision of a pillow having a gusseted or seamed exterior covering, configured to form a pillow cavity for housing a support pillow within. While a non-gusseted cover with the interior support pillow of this invention would still be an improvement, in the preferred mode of the device, the cover for the interior housed support pillow is gusseted so as to provide a more even side surface and two substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces.

The pillow cover forming the interior cavity for the support pillow is formed of top and bottom fabric walls providing opposing exterior surfaces for the head of a user, and interior surfaces forming the interior cavity of substantially a rectangular shape. A sidewall gusseted panel communicates between the perimeter edges of both the top and bottom surfaces and is engaged thereto in a conventional fashion such as sewing. The interior cavity can be sealed by complexly sewing the gusset for the perimeter of the pillow or a means for accessing the interior cavity can be provided in the form of an elongated opening which may be closed by a zipper, buttons, or other conventional means of closure.

The interior cavity is configured to hold the support pillow therein, and allow the exterior of the pillow cover to stretch over the passage communicating between the two sides of the support pillow, and allow it to appear as a conventional pillow, and to engage within conventional pillow cases and linen, in a manner where the center of the pillow case does not settle into the passage. Instead, the linen set having conventional pillow cases will appear to cover a normal feather or otherwise stuffed pillow, with the support pillow inserted, thus the exterior of the pillow cover appears as a normal pillow to viewers and will engage within conventional pillow cases and provide a normal appearing pillow when placed with other bedding which is most important to many people who have extensive and expensive linen sets they wish to continue to use normally.

The support pillow insert is positionable within the interior cavity formed within the gusseted pillow cover. The support pillow insert features a top surface, bottom surface, and perimeter side surface extending therebetween. This renders the shape and dimension of the support pillow insert substantially a cooperating shape to the interior cavity and adapted to engage within the similarly shaped interior cavity formed by the pillow cover.

The sidewalls of the formed support pillow, assembled with the overlain pillow cover, are substantially vertical to the support surface the pillow rests upon such as a bed. This provides a step of sorts, from the top surface of the pillow supported on the bed or other surface, to the support surface.

For a side sleeping user, the height of this step can be chosen to maintain their neck substantially aligned with their spine. A plurality of different sized pillows with different height side surfaces can be made available for users to choose the most comfortable. Alternatively, the gusset may be formed of slightly elastic material and planar support pillow inserts provided in a kit to allow users to adjust the height of the top surface above the support surface to their liking and comfort.

In a substantially central area of the support pillow, between the circumferential gusset sidewall, there is formed a passage communicating between apertures formed on the top and bottom surfaces of the device. The passage may have a cross section which is substantially circular, oval, square, rectangle, or other suitable shape. However, the current preferred shape is circular or oval due to the even stress this provides on the fabric communicating therethrough. It is anticipated that the passage can be square, rectangular or oval in shape and the application is considered to include these other shapes within the scope of the use of the term passage herein.

This passage communicates substantially between respective apertures formed on the top and bottom surfaces of the support pillow engaged in the interior cavity. This passage may communicate entirely through the support pillow or may be covered on the top and bottom surface by a very thin layer of stretch fabric and communicate therebetween. Consequently, unlike other support pillows which attempt to use different fillings, different shapes, and different contours of the support pillow, the device herein employs a passage of support in this center area of the support pillow which is hidden by the overlain pillow cover when the support pillow is engaged within the interior cavity of the pillow cover.

The inserted support pillow interior cavity surrounding this passage is filled with support material. It may be filled with one, or a combination of, filler material from a group consisting of down, down substitute, polyester, Dacron, feathers, micro-beads, foam, gel, beans, buckwheat, water, or any other filler material that will fill the internal cavity of the insert. When properly filled, the inserted support pillow will have support provided by the filler, in the area around the passage.

In use, the pillow, with the inserted support pillow engaged within the interior cavity of the pillow cover, looks like a normal pillow. This is especially preferred in that the formed pillow may be engaged in conventional bed linens, and the pillow can be sized in conventional pillow sizes to fit twin, full, queen, and king beds and linens in a fashion where the linen pillow case covered pillow will appear as a normal pillow even if positioned next to a non-support pillow. However, the pillow device herein employs the passage to allow the projecting portions of a user's head to settle into the passage. This is true whether the projecting portion is the ear of a side-sleeper or the back rear of the head of a back sleeper, or the nose and face of a face-sleeper. With the projecting portions of the head settling into the passage, in virtually all positions, the side of the pillow is of a height to allow the neck of the user to stay aligned with their spine, while laying down.

Additionally, a shoulder portion of the support pillow insert, formed between the sidewall of the support pillow and the apertures communicating with the passage, is positioned perfectly to support the user's neck. This shoulder support portion also supports the neck in alignment with the spine of the user during their prone position in bed. Further, for even more enhanced support, this shoulder portion can be filled with viscoelastic polymer gel infused memory foam, such as visco-elastic polyurethane foam with viscoelastic polymer gel beads infused. Unlike conventional memory foams which collapse over time during sleeping, the gel beads infused in the solid solution of memory foam maintain the vertical support ability of the formed foam. While a center portion of harder foam sandwiched between memory foam might work, it has been found that the even support provided by infusing gel beads into the memory foam during manufacture evenly distributes the gel beads throughout the entire shoulder support providing more even support. Further, unlike normal foam and memory foams, which are hot and tend to retain heat, the gel infused foam transmits heat and does not retain it, providing cooler support.

Similarly, since the passage is filled with air, this also provides a means for dissipating heat from the user's head and allows the user's head to be maintained at a cooler temperature when laying upon the pillow herein. This is due to the fact that air in the passage will not retain heat as well as the conventional foam or down or feather pillow filler material.

Furthermore, the passage provides a means for reducing pressure on the ear when the user is positioned on their side, greatly increasing comfort. When positioned on their back, the projecting portion of the rear of the user's head will comfortably engage within the passage and align the neck while so positioned. Finally, the reduced pressure of the pillow cover against the ear, due to the passage in support, helps to alleviate any muffling of some sounds that would normally occur from the user's ear contacting the surface of a conventional pillow.

Further, the shoulder portions can be formed of different widths to accommodate varying neck lengths of users. In one mode, this may be accomplished by positioning the passage in a location off-center, or slightly off center such that the shoulder portion on one side will be wider than the other. Alternatively, in another mode, the width of the shoulder portions can be varied by forming a recess communicating from the sidewall of the pillow adjacent the shoulder portion towards the central passage. Thus, the shoulder portions can be varied while maintain the central location of the passage. In all modes, however, it is known that some users have longer or shorter necks, and a wider or narrower shoulder portion can provide a means for accommodating this.

In other preferred modes, enhanced neck support may be accomplished by forming the shoulder portions of the support pillow with either a raised protrusion or curved recessed cavity extending normal to the plane of the pillow surface. In one preferred mode, the shoulder portion may include a substantially central protrusion of foam or other material which extends above the planar surface of the pillow. Such a protrusion will provide a means for resistive bias against the neck of the user for enhanced support. Alternatively, the shoulder portion may be formed having a substantially central curved recess which extends below the planar surface of the support pillow. Thus, a means for cradled neck support is provided.

In yet an additional preferred mode, enhanced neck support may be provided by one or both shoulder portions employing pocket portions formed and configured to cooperatively receive inserts from a kit of inserts adapted for additional neck support. The inserts may be elongated cylindrical shape and can be foam of various durometer ratings for hardness, memory type foam, or mixtures of memory and BLUEFLEX type gel memory foambeads, and/or heat or cold packs. If a heat or cold pack type insert is employed, the pocket preferably includes a plurality of apertures or perforations communicating between the pocket and pillow surface as a means for enhancing the thermal communications to the user. The inserts may also vary by thickness and may be plastic or polymer inserts which are flexible and stiffer than foam.

Additional enhanced neck support can be provided by forming the preferably elongated cylindrical inserts, with an axial cross section, and profile being that of having an upward or downward curvature. An upward curved axial profile toward the two planar support sides of the pillow may herein be provided by having a substantially central protrusion which is higher/thicker than distal ends. In this manner, the insert would protrude slightly in the middle, in the bridge section, and provide a means for resistive bias against the neck of the user for enhanced support. The resistive bias can be adjusted by forming multiple inserts, of differing density foam materials such as latex foam from 2-8 pounds per square foot. The inserts may be provided in a kit of inserts each formed of a different density per square foot foam between the 2-8 pound range. By changing to an insert with a softer foam of lower density or harder foam of higher density, users can infinitely adjust the resistive bias of the force of the collapsing foam insert against the weight of their neck, to use one insert that collapses and biases outward from the collapsed position, at a point of equilibrium that maintains the user's neck in the proper alignment.

Alternatively, a downward curved axial cross section may be provided by forming a central portion of the insert which is lower/thinner than the distal ends. Such an insert would therefor provide a means for cradled support of the user's neck.

Still further, the kit of different inserts may be provided to the user having varying degrees of upward or downward extensions which allows the user to selectively employ as needed for this insert, also just as noted above, to allow the user to choose the density material for the insert which yields a collapsed configuration and outward bias to hold their neck in a desired alignment for that user visco-elastic memory foam.

The weight of the memory foam is determined by the amount of chemicals used. The more chemicals, the higher the density and the more visco-elastic the memory foam will become. The density will not determine the hardness of the material, this is measured by the ILD rating (see below). Many memory foam mattresses use anywhere from a 31 b foam to a 5 lb per square foot weight foam density. From experimentation on many subjects, it has been found anything less than 2 lbs per square foot, will generally not qualify as visco elastic memory foam and not offer the same therapeutic qualities.

Memory foam and other foams are also measured by the ILD rating which measures how hard or soft a foam material is. A 25% ILD rating is the number of pounds required to achieve a 25% compression of a 4″ thick foam using a 50 square inch indentation. For example, a 20 ILD foam indicates that this material took 20 lbs of pressure to indent this foam 25%. Keep in mind that the higher the ILD, the firmer the foam. For the device herein, most memory foams, such as visco elastic foams, will be in the lower ILD ranges between 20 to 40 ILD with 20 being a softer more easily compressed material. Generally, there is a direct relationship to the density of pounds per square foot, and the ILD rating of the material, be it visco elastic foam, latex foam, polyurethane foam, or other foam materials. With memory foam materials to yield the 20 to 40 ILD a 2 to 8 pound per square foot material is desirable.

By providing such kits of inserts, with varying external shapes, and with varying densities of material to yield the ILD between 20 to 40, such as latex or visoelastic or polyurethane foam materials, in the noted range of 2-8 pounds per square foot, users can substitute different shaped and density inserts to yield a compressive resistive or outwardly biased force of the insert, that aligns their neck in a comfortable manner. This may take some trial and error on the user's part, however, ultimately using the correct insert of the correct density of the correct foam and shape, from a kit containing dozens of such members in different shapes, densities, and materials, every user should be able to find a sweet-spot for their individual posture.

It is particularly preferred that the pocket employed for engaging the inserts would have to have a slightly smaller axial length than the inserts, such that when inserted, the distal ends of the insert are positioned near or outside the edges of the pocket. In this manner, when weight of the user's neck and head is put on the bridge, and thus the insert, the ends of the insert stop and are fixed in position at the side edges of the pocket, and therefor maintain their dimensional shape.

With respect to the above description, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the herein disclosed invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention herein described is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved means for neck support on a pillow through the provision of a pillow insert configured with a passage in support and which is engaged to a support pillow cover which can be employed with a pillow case of conventional linens.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a support system which forms a planar support surface for the head by employing a gusset style sidewall engaging the top and bottom surfaces of both casing and insert.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a passage in support, centrally located on the support pillow insert, to provide an area to position projecting parts of the user's head within, whether the user is on their back or side.

Still yet another object of the invention is the support shoulder portion formed between the passage and the sidewall providing superior neck support.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a reduction of pressure on the ear or face when positioned as such through the provision of the passage described above.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of a support pillow that is adjustable for users with especially large or small body frames.

These together with other objects and advantages which become subsequently apparent reside in the details of the construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts a top view of the assembled device showing the support pillow insert engaged within the interior cavity of the pillow casing, and depicting in dotted line, a centrally located passage in the support pillow insert providing a centrally located relief and substantially equal sized shoulders for user neck support.

FIG. 2 depicts a top view of the device of FIG. 1, shown with the passage located off center slightly to provide shoulder sections for neck support of different sizes.

FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of the support pillow casing covering the internally housed support pillow.

FIG. 4 depicts a side view of the support pillow casing, showing the gusseted construction of the sidewall thereby forming a substantially planar head support surface.

FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of the support pillow casing and showing an opening on the sidewall for insertion of the support pillow insert within the interior cavity of the support pillow casing.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the support pillow insert depicting the central position of the formed passage communicating between the top and bottom surfaces.

FIG. 7 depicts a side view of the support pillow insert showing the preferred substantially planar sidewalls and the passage providing means for pressure relief provided by the passage (in dotted line).

FIG. 8 shows the device herein assembled with the support pillow insert inside the support pillow casing and inserted within a conventional linen set pillow case to achieve a normal appearance thereof.

FIG. 9 depicts an exploded view of a height-adjustable and firmness adjustable mode of the device with an insertable center portion engageable between two engageable half sections.

FIG. 10 shows a slice through a shoulder portion of the device showing foam material forming the shoulder and which may also form the remainder of the support pillow.

FIG. 11 depicts another slice view through a shoulder depicting a mode of the device having a center portion of the shoulder formed of a harder material such as a viscoelastic polymer gel foam and the opposing sides formed of softer material such as visco-elastic memory foam and which may also form the remainder of the support pillow.

FIG. 12 depicts another preferred mode of the device wherein the shoulder portion is formed of a foam material such as visco elastic memory foam which has gel foam beads disbursed in the solid solution of foam material and which may also form the remainder of the support pillow.

FIG. 13 shows the support insert of the device herein wherein the passage is oval in shape.

FIG. 14 shows the support insert of the device herein wherein the passage is rectangular in shape.

FIG. 15 shows a top view of another mode of the device showing a unitary body support pillow configured with recessed shoulder portions providing a means for varying the shoulder portion width.

FIG. 16 shows a cross sectional view along line AA of FIG. 15 depicting a means for enhanced neck support by forming the shoulder portion having a substantial concave recess thereby providing a means for cradled neck support.

FIG. 17 shows a similar cross section depicting concave recess employed on both sides of the shoulder portion.

FIG. 18 shows a similar cross section having a substantially convex protruding shoulder portion as a means for enhanced neck support.

FIG. 19 shows the protruding shoulder portion employed on both sides of the pillow.

FIG. 20 shows a combination of both a shoulder recess and protrusion on opposite sides of the pillow.

FIG. 21 shows another mode of the device providing a means for enhanced neck support through the provision of pocket elements formed on the shoulder portions which are configured to removably engage a neck support insert.

FIG. 22 shows the neck support insert engaged within the pocket showing the ends of the insert extending past the open ends of the pocket.

FIG. 23 shows an end view showing a preferred cross section of the insert being substantially circular.

FIG. 24 shows an end view of another preferred cross section of the insert being substantially rectangular.

FIG. 25 shows a kit of a plurality of inserts each having various axial profile provided different neck support.

FIG. 26 depicts a perspective view of the device of FIGS. 15-20 having rounded perimeter sides and corners and formed of a unitary construction without a pillow case thereon and showing the slit providing access to shoulder pockets for inserts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings of FIGS. 1-26, wherein like numerals refer to like parts there is seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 a top view depiction of the as-used position of the device 10 wherein a user would lay their head upon the upper facing surface 11. Of course the device 10 can be inserted within a conventional linen set pillow case 13 as in FIG. 8, and appear like a normal down or feather stuffed pillow making the device 10 employable by those who will not use other support pillows which appear contoured or do not fill out the pillow case 13 properly.

The position of a passage 22 formed into the support pillow 20 contained within the pillow casing 12, is depicted by the dashed line. The passage 22 in FIG. 1, is seen centrally located relative to the length and width of the pillow 20 and when in the as-used position shown, remains in a substantially central location on the device 10. This positioning forms shoulders 30 or neck support portions, extending between the edge of the pillow 20 to the circumference of the passage 22 which are substantially equal. The passage 22 being void of material, so positioned provides means for dissipating heat from the user's head during use and additionally a relief when supporting the ear overhead to allow for less muffling of surrounding sounds.

In FIG. 2, and in FIG. 15, the passage 22 is shown having its cicumfrential sidewall 29 defining the passage 22, a distance “D” closer to one side edge 26 of the pillow 20 than the opposite side edge 26. In this mode of the device 10 the shoulders 30 are preferably formed in unequal sizes having widths W1 and W2 shown in FIG. 15 and are solid along their respective axis across the gap on each side of the passage 22 so as to provide support. This difference in width, allows users with different length necks, to choose the shoulder 30 having the width between the side edge 26 and the circumferential edge of the passage 22, which is most comfortable supporting their neck.

The neck support provided by the shoulder 30 positioned between the passage 22 and side edge 26 of 20 provides improved neck support when the user settles their head on to the upper facing surface 11 and places one side of their head over the passage 22 which is covered by the sidewall of the casing 12. Such neck support is provided independent of the user's body position, whether laying on their back or side. Further, since projecting portions of the user's head are accommodated by the passage 22, the user's neck remains in proper alignment whether sleeping on a side or their back.

The material forming the shoulder 30 of the support pillow (FIG. 6) can be the same material as the rest of the support pillow 20 or can be customized in the area of the shoulder 30 for increased support or lessened support as the case may be and as depicted in FIGS. 10-12. Currently, a mixture of more supportive and compressive foams as in FIGS. 11 and 12 are preferred since the user sleeping on the device 10 for many hours a day, for many months, will have a tendency to wear in the softer material and support for the neck can decrease.

FIG. 3 shows the top view of the casing 12 in the as used position with the support pillow 20 housed in an internal cavity formed by the upper and lower wall of the casing 12 which is connected by a gusseted sidewall. As can be seen the side view of FIG. 4, the casing 12 employs a gusset sidewall 16 communicating between the top surface 14 and bottom surface 18. The gusset sidewall 16 provides a means for maintaining a flat pillow surface. This is in comparison to conventional pillows which are joined at a central seam and which tends to arch or bend the pillow surfaces from edge to edge. It thus allows a construction which provides a substantially planar top surface 14 and bottom surface 18 of the formed support pillow 20. This also establishes a substantially stable sidewall width and thereby providing a means for maintain the support of the shoulder 30 constant when the top surface 14 supports the weight of the user's head and the shoulder 30 supports their neck.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the casing 12 showing an optional but preferred opening 19 at one end of the gusset circumferential sidewall 16. The opening 19 is of such a configuration to allow the insertion of the support pillow 20 into the internal cavity of the casing 12. The opening 19 may be sewn shut but if not required is preferred as it allows for a washing of the casing 12. The opening 19 may remain open in the as-used position but may also close by means of hook and loop fasteners, zipper, or other cooperating fasteners of the like.

The support pillow 20 can be seen in the top view of FIG. 6 with centrally located passage 22. As noted, the favored mode of the passage 22 is circular in shape as it allows for even stretching and contraction of the foam or other material forming the body of the pillow 20. However, as noted, and shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the passage can be oval or rectangular or other shapes.

Additionally, the passage 22 may be configured in different sizes to increase the area of non support and decrease the shoulder 30 size, to accommodate different sized users and it is anticipated the device 10 will be sold in such different sizes to accommodate various head sizes. Consequently, it should be noted that the relative passage 22 size depicted in the figure is merely there for demonstrative purposes.

The dimensions of the pillow 20 are configured to cooperatively engage for an easy insertion and removal with the interior cavity 27 of the casing 12. Again, the means for neck support of the user in the as-used position with their head laying upon an upper facing surface 11, is provided by the shoulder 30. This shoulder 30 is defined by the area of the support pillow 20 between the circumference of the passage 22 and the sidewalls 26 closest to the passage 22. As noted and shown in FIG. 2, the position of the passage 22 may be varied to produce substantially equal dimensioned shoulders 30 or two different sized shoulders 30 allowing a user to choose for comfort.

FIG. 7 shows the substantially planar shape of the sidewall 26 of the pillow 20 extending from the top surface 24 to the bottom surface 28. This shape conforms to the shape of the passage 22 of the casing 12 and provides for a good cooperative engagement therein and the substantially planar sleeping surfaces for the user.

While experimentation has shown that the passage communicating through the support pillow 20 is favored by users, it should be noted that the passage 22 might also be provided with inserts 23 (FIG. 9) adapted to engage the passage 22. These inserts 23 may be provided with support material such as memory or other foam of varying density such as between 2-8 pounds per square foot which is correlated to ILD ranges between 20 to 40 ILD with 20 being the most compressible and 40 being the most firm. If supplied in a kit of inserts 23 of varying density to yield varying ILD, the user may choose any insert 23 from the kit to yield an insert 23 which compresses to the point that their neck is comfortably positioned. In that fashion, the area within the passage 22 can be adjustable for support of a portion of the user's head. Or, the passage 22 may be provided with fluid filled or gel filled inserts 23 which may be chilled or heated to provide temperature therapy to the user, such as in a hospital or home care setting.

As noted above, there is seen in FIG. 8 the device 10 herein assembled with the support pillow 20 inside the support pillow casing 12, inserted within a conventional linen set pillow case 13. As noted, this is a substantial consideration because many users spend hundreds of dollars on linen for bedrooms and are hesitant to use or employ strangely configured or contoured pillows in combination with their linens. The device 10 herein, by providing a support pillow which appears substantially conventional prior to and in an engagement with a conventional pillow case 13, will encourage more widespread use for users formerly recalcitrant to do so with oddly configured support pillows.

FIG. 9 depicts an exploded view of a mode of the device 10 wherein the support pillow 20 is formed in assembleable components. The support pillow 20, in this mode, is provided with a planar first half 33 engageable to either one of a planar second half 35 or a center section 37.

The insertable center section 37, provides two means of adjustment to the device 10. First a means for height adjustment of the upper facing surface 11 above the bed or other support surface. Varying the thickness of the center section 37 varies the height of the upper facing surface 11 and the shoulder 30.

Additionally, means of adjustment of the firmness of the assembled support pillow 20 is provided by varying the firmness of the material used for the center section 37. For instance, the center section 37 may be formed of closed cell foam or gel style foam or latex foam which is more springy and render the insert firmer to the user in the as-used position. Or, more compressible material such as memory visoelastic memory foam in a range of 2-7 pounds per square foot, which is temperature sensitive, can be employed to render the pillow 20 softer. Further, the center section 37 can be removed to lower the height of the upper facing surface 11 as an adjustment for smaller users such as children.

In the mode of the device 10 employing assembleable support pillows 20, the support pillow 20 can be provided as a kit with the first half 33 engaged either one of a planar second half 35 or a center section 37, and with a plurality of center sections 37 available in different heights and different density materials to make the assembled support pillow harder or softer as well as taller or shorter.

FIG. 10 shows a slice through the support shoulder 30 of the device 10 showing material forming the shoulder portion 30 to be of one material which can be the same material the remainder of the support pillow 20 is formed, or could be different such as firmer material such as a denser Visco elastic memory foam style material.

FIG. 11 depicts a slice through the support shoulder 30 of the support pillow 20 formed of two different materials. A central portion 41 is formed of one material which is sandwiched between adjoining portions 43. This is one particularly favored mode of the device 10 to provide better neck support to the users. A favored construction is forming the adjoining portions 43 from visco-elastic memory foam of 2-8 pounds per square foot density, since it softens when it comes in contact with heat from the user's neck and conforms to shape for even support. The central section 41 would be formed of the denser memory foam, or more preferably of a gel foam, or a memory foam with disbursed gel beads as in FIG. 12, both of which provides more support at higher compression levels and long durations which collapses the softer memory foam.

FIG. 12 depicts another particularly preferred mode of the device 10 wherein the shoulder 30 is formed of a visco-elastic memory foam 47 with gel foam beads 49 disbursed in the solid solution of memory foam 47. This mode performs especially well to provide contoured support of the neck, and firmer support under the higher compression levels the weight of the head and neck impart.

As noted above, the passage 22 is currently preferred in a substantially circular shape or the oval shape shown in FIG. 13 shows the support pillow 20 of the device 10 herein wherein the passage 22 is oval. Additional shapes are anticipated such as that of FIG. 14 which shows the support pillow 20 having a passage 22 being rectangular in shape.

Again, it is noted that the shoulder portions 30 can be formed of different widths to accommodate varying neck lengths of users. In one mode show previously in FIG. 2, this is accomplished by positioning the passage 22 in a location off-center, or slightly off center such that the shoulder portion 30 on one side will be wider than the other. Alternatively, in another preferred mode in FIG. 15, the width of the shoulder portions 30 can be varied by forming a recess 50 communicating form the sidewall 26 of the pillow 20 adjacent the shoulder portion 30 extending towards the central passage 22. Thus, the shoulder portions 30 can be varied by varying the depth of the recess 50 while maintaining the central location of the passage 22 if desired. In all modes, however, it is known that some users have longer or shorter necks, and a wider or narrower shoulder portion 30 can provide a means for accommodating this.

Still further, shown in the views of FIGS. 16-20, additional enhanced neck support may be accomplished by forming the axial profile of the shoulder portions 30 with one of a raised protrusion 54 or inwardly curved recessed cavity 52 which extends inwardly normal to the plane of the pillow 20 surface. In FIGS. 18-20 there is shown the shoulder portion 30 including a substantially central protrusion 54 of foam or other material which extends above the planar surface of the pillow. Such a protrusion 54 will provide a means for resistive bias against the neck of the user for enhanced support. Alternatively, in FIGS. 16, 17, and 20, the shoulder portion 30 may be formed having a substantially central curved recess 52 which extends below the planar surface of the support pillow 20. Thus, in these mode, a means for cradled neck support is provided.

In yet additional preferred modes, shown in FIGS. 21-25, still additional enhanced neck support may be provided by one or both shoulder portions 30 employing pocket portions 56 having one or two slits 59 at or near an end 58 of a pocket 56 which is formed and configured to cooperatively removably engaged inserts 60 adapted as a means for additional neck support. The inserts 60 may have circular (FIG. 23), square (FIG. 24) or other suitably shaped cross sections, and can be foam of various durometer ratings for hardness, memory type foam or mixtures of memory and BLUEFLEX type gel memory foambeads, and/or heat or cold packs. They may also be provided in a kit of different inserts 60 having the above noted foam density range between 2-8 pounds per square foot to yield the ILD between 20 to 40 and resulting compression of the insert 60 to position the user's neck on the shoulder 30 in a comfortable alignment. Members of the kit may be sold at a store so users my buy only the inserts 60 in the density desired to yield the proper ILD and compressed resistance against the weight of their neck to keep it aligned.

If a heat or cold pack type insert 60 is employed, the pocket 56 preferably includes a plurality of apertures 68 or perforations communicating between the exterior and interior of the pocket 56 as a means for enhancing the thermal communication of the heat or cold pack to the user's neck. The inserts 60 may also vary by thickness and may be plastic or polymer inserts which are flexible and stiffer than foam.

As shown in FIG. 22, it is particularly preferred that the pocket 56 employed for engaging the inserts 60 would have a slightly smaller axial length, than the inserts 60, such that when inserted, the distal ends of the insert 60 are positioned near or outside the ends 58 of the pocket. Access to the various pockets would be provided by a slit 59 formed in the body of the device 10 such that an insert 60 may be slid from outside the pocket and engaged therein. In this manner when weight is put on the insert 60, the ends will not be compressed within the pocket 56 and instead maintain their shape.

Additional enhanced neck support can be provided by forming the preferably elongated cylindrical inserts 60 with an axial cross section and profile being having an upward or downward curvature. An upward curved axial profile, may herein be provided by having a substantially central protrusion 64 which is higher/thicker than distal ends. In this manner, the insert 60 would have an exterior which protrudes slightly in the central portion, between its ends, and toward the upper surface of the shoulder 30 and when compressed by the user's neck form a means for resistive bias against the weight of the neck of the user for enhanced support which is adjustable depending on the aforementioned foam type and density forming the insert 60 which may be purchased from the available kit.

Alternatively, a downward curved axial provided may be provided by forming a recessed central portion 62 of the insert 60 which is lower/thinner than the distal ends. Such an insert 60 would therefor provide a cradled support area in its mid portion and in the surrounding shoulder 30 when compressed by the users neck. Still further, the kit 66 of inserts 60 may be provided to the user having varying degrees of upward or downward curved profiles, and made from any of a variety of foam materials which allows the user to selectively choose from as needed.

It is particularly preferred that the pocket employed for engaging the inserts 60 would have to have a slightly smaller axial length than the inserts 60 themselves, such that when inserted, the distal ends of the insert 60 are positioned near or against the ends 58 or endwall of the pocket 56. In this manner when weight from the user's neck is communicated to the insert 60, the ends of the insert 60 stop at the side edges or ends 58 of the pocket 56, and therefor maintain their shape.

While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the disclosed head and neck support pillow device have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it should be noted that the pillow 20 can be employed without the case and perform well, and a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions, as would occur to those skilled in the art, are considered included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pillow apparatus for spine alignment and neck support comprising: an pillow adapted for engagement within an interior cavity of a pillow casing; said pillow having a body formed of resilient material and having substantially planar first surface opposite a substantially planar parallel second surface; a sidewall communicating between said first and second surfaces, said sidewall defining a perimeter of said pillow; a passage defined by a cicumfrential edge, said passage communicating between apertures in said first and second surface at a central portion of said first surface and said second surface; opposing shoulder portions of said pillow defined by an area of said pillow body between said perimeter of said pillow and said cicumfrential edge defining said passage; said shoulder portions forming a support for a neck of a user having their head positioned in an as-used position, partially aligned with said passage when said pillow is positioned upon a support surface; said passage forming a relief for a communicating portion of said user's head positioned within said cicumfrential edge; said passage defining a heat sink for heat from said user's head positioned in said as-used position; and whereby a user positioning their head upon said support surface area in said as used position, is provided a neck support by a said shoulder portion concurrent with said heat sink by said passage.
 2. The pillow apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising: said pillow engaged within said pillow casing; said pillow casing having an first fabric wall connected to a second fabric wall by a fabric sidewall; said pillow positioned to an engaged position within said interior cavity of said pillow casing; said pillow casing having a first fabric wall, a second fabric wall, and a fabric sidewall; said fabric sidewall being substantially vertical in disposition to said support surface, with said pillow in said engaged position upon said support surface; said first wall and said second wall both being substantially planar with said pillow in said engaged position; and a portion of said first wall and said second wall forming a covering of said apertures communicating with said passage; said covering providing a support surface for a pillow case sidewall, when positioned thereover.
 3. The pillow apparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising: said pillow case sidewall with said pillow in said engaged position having a substantially planar appearance thereby providing a concealment of said passage.
 4. The pillow apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising: said resilient material forming said body of said pillow, and said shoulder portions, being visco elastic memory foam.
 5. The pillow apparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising: said resilient material forming said body of said pillow, and said shoulder portions, being visco elastic memory foam.
 6. The pillow apparatus of claim 3 additionally comprising: said resilient material forming said body of said pillow, and said shoulder portions, being visco elastic memory foam.
 7. The pillow apparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising: said resilient material forming said body of said pillow being visco elastic memory foam between 2 to 8 pounds per square foot in density; said shoulder portion formed of a central portion formed of visco elastic gel sandwiched between layers of visco elastic memory foam; and a compressive resistant force of said gel against a weight of said user's neck employing said shoulder as said neck support, providing means for maintaining said user's neck in line with their spine when said user's head is in said as-used position.
 8. The pillow apparatus of claim 3 additionally comprising: said resilient material forming said body of said pillow being visco elastic memory foam between 2 to 8 pounds per square foot in density; said shoulder portion formed of a central portion formed of visco elastic gel sandwiched between layers of visco elastic memory foam; and a compressive resistant force of said gel against a weight of said user's neck employing said shoulder as said neck support, providing means for maintaining said user's neck in line with their spine when said user's head is in said as-used position.
 9. The pillow apparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising: said resilient material forming said body of said pillow being visco elastic memory foam between 2 to 8 pounds per square foot in density; said shoulder portion formed of a solid solution of visco elastic foam and visco elastic gel beads disbursed therein; and a compressive resistant force of said gel against a weight of said user's neck employing said shoulder as said neck support, providing means for maintaining said user's neck in line with their spine when said user's head is in said as-used position.
 10. The pillow apparatus of claim 3 additionally comprising: said resilient material forming said body of said pillow being visco elastic memory foam between 2 to 8 pounds per square foot in density; said shoulder portion formed of a solid solution of visco elastic foam and visco elastic gel beads disbursed therein; and a compressive resistant force of said gel beads and foam against a weight of said user's neck employing said shoulder as said neck support, providing means for maintaining said user's neck in line with their spine when said user's head is in said as-used position.
 11. The pillow apparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising: said resilient material forming said body of said pillow configured of a two outer layers engageable with a central layer sandwiched therebetween; said outer layers formed of visco elastic memory foam material; and said central layer formed of visco elastic gel material.
 12. The pillow apparatus of claim 3 additionally comprising: said resilient material forming said body of said pillow configured of a two outer layers engageable with a central layer sandwiched therebetween; said outer layers formed of visco elastic memory foam material; and said central layer formed of visco elastic gel material.
 13. The pillow apparatus of claim 11 additionally comprising: said central layer being a member of a plurality of available central layers; said plurality of central layers being comprised of foam material of differing densities; and whereby a different central layer from said plurality is engageable with said outer layers to change a resistive support of said body thereby providing said user means for adjusting a stiffness of said head support by changing said central layer.
 14. The pillow apparatus of claim 12 additionally comprising: said central layer being a member of a plurality of available central layers; said plurality of central layers being comprised of foam material of differing densities; and whereby a different central layer from said plurality is engageable with said outer layers to change a resistive support of said body thereby providing said user means for adjusting a stiffness of said head support by changing said central layer.
 15. The pillow apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising: said resilient material forming said body of said pillow being visco elastic memory foam between 2 to 8 pounds per square foot in density; said shoulder portion formed with a pocket therein; an insert configured for cooperative engagement within said pocket; said insert being one of a plurality of inserts in a kit of said inserts; said kit including individual inserts formed of foam material of varying weight between a range of 2 to 8 pounds per square foot; said individual inserts thereby varying in hardness; and whereby said user may choose a said individual insert of a said hardness which when engaged within said pocket, compresses while providing said neck support, to thereby communicate to said user, a comfortable positioning of said user's neck relative to said head and their shoulders.
 16. The pillow apparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising: said resilient material forming said body of said pillow being visco elastic memory foam between 2 to 8 pounds per square foot in density; said shoulder portion formed with a pocket therein; an insert configured for cooperative engagement within said pocket; said insert being one of a plurality of inserts in a kit of said inserts; said kit including individual inserts formed of foam material of varying weight between a range of 2 to 8 pounds per square foot; said individual inserts thereby varying in hardness; and whereby said user may choose a said individual insert of a said hardness which when engaged within said pocket, compresses while providing said neck support, to thereby communicate to said user, a comfortable positioning of said user's neck relative to said head and their shoulders.
 17. The pillow apparatus of claim 3 additionally comprising: said resilient material forming said body of said pillow being visco elastic memory foam between 2 to 8 pounds per square foot in density; said shoulder portion formed with a pocket therein; an insert configured for cooperative engagement within said pocket; said insert being one of a plurality of inserts in a kit of said inserts; said kit including individual inserts formed of foam material of varying weight between a range of 2 to 8 pounds per square foot; said individual inserts thereby varying in hardness; and whereby said user may choose a said individual insert of a said hardness which when engaged within said pocket, compresses while providing said neck support, to thereby communicate to said user, a comfortable positioning of said user's neck relative to said head and their shoulders.
 18. The pillow apparatus of claim 7 additionally comprising: said shoulder portion formed with a pocket therein; an insert configured for cooperative engagement within said pocket; said insert being one of a plurality of inserts in a kit of said inserts; said kit including individual inserts formed of foam material of varying weight between a range of 2 to 8 pounds per square foot; said individual inserts thereby varying in hardness; and whereby said user may choose a said individual insert of a said hardness which when engaged within said pocket, compresses while providing said neck support, to thereby communicate to said user, a comfortable positioning of said user's neck relative to said head and their shoulders.
 19. The pillow apparatus of claim 8 additionally comprising: said shoulder portion formed with a pocket therein; an insert configured for cooperative engagement within said pocket; said insert being one of a plurality of inserts in a kit of said inserts; said kit including individual inserts formed of foam material of varying weight between a range of 2 to 8 pounds per square foot; said individual inserts thereby varying in hardness; and whereby said user may choose a said individual insert of a said hardness which when engaged within said pocket, compresses while providing said neck support, to thereby communicate to said user, a comfortable positioning of said user's neck relative to said head and their shoulders. 